Toronto East York, Canada

RIGHT TO HOUSING FORUM

We will have a federal election on October 19, 2015. The political leaders have aired their views and had debates on a variety of issues of concern to Canadians. Many families struggle to meet their monthly rent due to rising rental cost. Community housing is not an option for them as there is a huge backlog of applicants on waiting lists. Moreover, most of the community housing buildings are in need of massive repairs and renovations. In light of the ongoing housing crisis, the lack of affordable housing and increase in homelessness should be more of a priority for all political parties and included in their platform.

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) and the Right to Housing Coalition are joining groups and individuals across Canada in a national week of action to address the issue of affordable housing and homelessness. The Right to Housing Forum is part of a national week of action taking place September 23rd-30th.

The Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants Association (FMTA) has extended an invitation to attend the Right To Housing Forum that will take place in Toronto on September 30, 2015. The FMTA recognizes that there is an affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Canada and the government is doing little to fix it. Affordable housing should be an election issue. You are invited to this Right to Housing Forum to talk about the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in the context of housing as a right.
This event will be held at Ryerson University Library Building, Room 72, 350 Victoria St., Toronto. TIME: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

3 Responses

This forum is good idea especially since we are in the midst of a federal election. The lack of affordable housing and homelessness is embarrassing for Canada as it is the only G8 country that does not have a national housing strategy. So many reports in the media that we have a housing crisis especially in big cities… yet not much debate to address this issue in the election campaign. Their speeches so full of drama mostly about all kinds of other issues putting down each other. Affordable housing is clearly not a major campaign issue. This housing crisis needs to be addressed even though we are in a tough economic cycle. This article in the Huffington Post sums up the issue . . . .”In Canada, each party is offering very different solutions to a pervasive problem. The Conservatives are promising additional tax breaks and other ways to utilize savings to buy a home, especially for first-time home buyers. The Liberals are recommending spending $19.7 billion over 10 years on building affordable housing and seniors’ facilities, as well as on improving infrastructure. The New Democrats, meanwhile, are advocating tax breaks to encourage construction of affordable rental units over the next 10 years, and also creating incentives for people to build more affordable housing. “http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/samantha-brookes/federal-election-housing_b_8119138.html

There is a dire need to increase the amount of affordable housing for working people and even more disconcerting is the growing number of homeless people. There is an ever increasing number of people struggling to balance the high cost of housing and the rising cost of food … no wonder there is so much demand at the food banks. Most of community housing which is affordable is crumbling and in desperate need of major repairs and renovation. This is depressing. Why is lack of affordable housing not high on the political agenda in this election campaign. I hope this nationwide housing forum raises awareness of the politicians to address this housing crisis to ease the burden on those desperate in need of affordable housing.

Why isn,t this issue of affordable housing in the foreground of debates in the federal election? Does it have anything to do with the fact that most of those in need of affordable housing are not ‘old stock Canadians?